A Japanese craftsman worked on a Daruma doll, which is believed to bring good luck, at a workshop in Takasaki on Thursday. Sales of Daruma dolls have risen amid the upcoming general election. Candidates traditionally paint one eye on the doll at the start of their campaign and paint the other if they win.

A Japanese craftsman worked on a Daruma doll, which is believed to bring good luck, at a workshop in Takasaki on Thursday. Sales of Daruma dolls have risen amid the upcoming general election. Candidates traditionally paint one eye on the doll at the start of their campaign and paint the other if they win.

Sitting next to Shinzo Abe, the president of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda spoke on Friday during a debates ahead of the Dec. 16 general election in Tokyo. Mr. Noda's board reads: "(Choice between) going forward or taking steps backward."

Sitting next to Shinzo Abe, the president of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda spoke on Friday during a debates ahead of the Dec. 16 general election in Tokyo. Mr. Noda's board reads: "(Choice between) going forward or taking steps backward."

Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose, gave a campaign speech on Thursday, while former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara looked on for the Tokyo gubernatorial election. Mr. Inose and seven other candidates are running to become Tokyo's next governor.

Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose, gave a campaign speech on Thursday, while former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara looked on for the Tokyo gubernatorial election. Mr. Inose and seven other candidates are running to become Tokyo's next governor.

Prince Akishino, who celebrated his 47th birthday on Friday, looked at a book with his son Prince Hisahito, while his wife Princess Kiko and second daughter Princess Kako looked on, at his residence in Tokyo on Nov. 11. The photo was released Friday by the Imperial Household Agency.

Prince Akishino, who celebrated his 47th birthday on Friday, looked at a book with his son Prince Hisahito, while his wife Princess Kiko and second daughter Princess Kako looked on, at his residence in Tokyo on Nov. 11. The photo was released Friday by the Imperial Household Agency.

A model demonstrated how to take pictures of her face with a smart phone to check her skin condition through a cloud computing system produced by Japan's computer maker Fujitsu Ltd. during a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday.

A model demonstrated how to take pictures of her face with a smart phone to check her skin condition through a cloud computing system produced by Japan's computer maker Fujitsu Ltd. during a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday.